A new political party in Israel: Former IDF chief & ex-National Unity MK Eisenkot founds ‘Yashar’

Gadi Eisenkot, the former IDF chief who quit the National Unity party over two months ago, announced the formation of his new 'Yashar! With Eisenkot' party on Tuesday.

Yashar is the Hebrew term for 'straight,' but can also carry a similar meaning to the English word, signaling moral integrity and honesty.

Former Knesset member Matan Kahana, who left the 'National Unity' party alongside Eisenkot and has now joined 'Yashar', explained that the party’s name was a reference to comments from former Israeli hostage Eli Sharabi, who said the effort to free the hostages from Hamas captivity was not a matter of left or right, but of being “straight” (yashar).

The new party “will work for repair, healing, and hope for Israeli society,” according to the statement.

However, numerous media reports and Eisenkot himself have suggested that further mergers are possible, leaving it unclear whether the former IDF chief will ultimately run independently with Yashar in the upcoming elections.

In addition to Kahana, 120 new members have joined Eisenkot's 'Yashar' party including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s former chief of staff, Yoav Horowitz; retired general and former Labor party member, Tal Rousso; the president of the tech company Wix, Nir Zohar; Shir Siegel, daughter of former Israeli hostages Aviva and Keith Siegel, and several other prominent leaders.

The heads of the opposition parties have been seeking a unified strategy and have considered potential mergers as part of their efforts to unseat Netanyahu in the upcoming elections.

In September, Eisenkot met 'Yesh Atid' party chairman Yair Lapid, in the opposition. The two leaders agreed to convene a meeting of all opposition leaders to “deepen coordination and begin formulating the basic guidelines for the next government, following the talks and meetings that have taken place in recent days,” according to 'Yesh Atid'.

Lapid congratulated Eisenkot on the formation of Yashar, writing on 𝕏, “Together we will succeed and change the direction of the State of Israel.”

In recent months, Eisenkot has also met "The Democrats" party head, Yair Golan, and former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, who also formed a new party.

Golan warned that Israel is at a perilous moment, saying, “Netanyahu is leading Israeli democracy into the most serious crisis in our history. We don’t have the privilege of divisions in the democratic camp.”

He issued a direct appeal to Eisenkot: “Gadi, let’s unite. Win. And save Israel.”

Eisenkot stated, “The establishment of 'Yashar! With Eisenkot', is both a personal and national imperative.”

“The party will place Israel’s security and national interests above all other considerations, establish a broad governing alternative, and serve as a foundation for further unity, all to ensure the State of Israel’s existence as Jewish, democratic, and strong, in the spirit of the Declaration of Independence.”

He added, “The citizens of Israel deserve leadership that serves the public with integrity and with a deep commitment to our shared future, to Israel’s prosperity as a model society in the eyes of its citizens and of the world.”